Trust Over Fear (progression)
Definition: From the frightened beginner to the confident swimmer.
Core cues:
- "Cheek to cheek"
- "Palm up on neck"
- "Two fingers on neck"
- "Let go (with warning)"
Coach interpretation:
- Cheek to cheek: Place the swimmer’s head on your shoulder. Get your chest underwater and press your cheek into the swimmer’s cheek. The physical connection will help calm their fear and as comfort grows will develop into a joyful back glide.
- Support the head: Provide the majority of your direct support to their neck and back of the head. Keep the swimmer’s face above water. Assist the lower back or legs as needed; keeping near surface, kicking. Let the swimmer manipulate their torso and legs to stay afloat.
- Palm up on neck: Support the child’s neck with your upturned palm, aiming the web between thumb and pointer into their neck. Cradle the skull with your palm. Provide total support.
- Two fingers on neck: When they are ready, reduce that support to two fingers under the neck. Remove your fingers and hover nearby.
- Let go (with warning): Do zooming glides with full support, and let go (with warning) to provide sense of fun and movement. Encourage kicking and moving from bench to bench.
Teaching strategy:
- Full head on shoulder support: Let the child rest out of the water on your shoulder. Keep your face pressed to their head.
- Full head support in your hand: Build up to comfort where the swimmer can put their ears in the water and relax. Provide total support of the neck and head.
- Limited head & neck support: Use your fingers on the back of the neck and head to keep the swimmer’s face above water and encourage more and more independent floating/gliding.
- Play with support and no support: Do zooming glides with full support, and let go (with warning) to provide sense of fun and movement. Encourage kicking and moving from bench to bench.
- Independent gliding: The swimmer has done glides with and without support over short distances, uses their feet to provide propulsion, and knows how to balance in the water.
Common errors and corrections:
- Supported back float that promotes a curving banana body by encouraging the child to bend: Avoid doing a supported back float that promotes a curving banana body by encouraging the child to bend.
- Supported front floats that promote belly down floating: Avoid doing supported front floats that promote belly down floating.
- Putting your hands on the child’s stomach so that you are beside them: Avoid putting your hands on the child’s stomach so that you are beside them. This promotes the head up, the belly down, and the legs up. Once you remove support they’ll sink and their body will be in a “U” shape.
- Holding the knees and back: Holding the knees and back will lead to a saggy body that sinks once we remove support.
Progression:
Build to Independence → Trust Over Fear → Glides: Wrong holding
Short verified cues (confirmed present; check by eye): “Cheek to cheek”, “Support the head”, “Palm up on neck”, “Trust Over Fear”